She "Fell Into" a Hip Fracture

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American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Apr 20, 2012, 01:38 ET

Judy Baar Topinka's fall prompts orthopaedic surgeons' advisory

ROSEMONT, Ill., April 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Ninety percent of the more than 352,000 hip fractures in the U.S. each year are the result of a fall. Just this week, Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka fell as she was getting onto an elevator at a Springfield hotel and fractured her left hip. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) knows that a fall can be both life threatening and debilitating.

Consider the statistics and prevalence:

Women have two to three times as many hip fractures as men.
White, post-menopausal women have a 1 in 7 chance of hip fracture during a lifetime.
The risk of hip fracture for women 5'8" or taller is twice that of women who are 5'2".
Studies show that women who have broken their arm in the past have an increased risk of breaking a hip.

Take a proactive approach to fall prevention by using the following AAOS guidelines to help keep you and your loved ones, fall and injury-free or visit orthoinfo.org/falls.

Tips for the Home:

Eliminate all tripping hazards, such as loose rugs in the home.
Install grab bars or handrails on both sides of the stairway and other safety devices near bathtubs and beds.
Place a lamp or flashlight near the bed.
Keep clutter – like pets' toys or papers – off the bedroom floor.
Replace satiny bed sheets with products made of non-slippery material; i.e. wool or cotton.
Arrange furniture to allow a clear pathway between rooms.
Secure loose rugs with double-faced tape, tacks or slip-resistant backing.
Keep stairs clear of packages, boxes or other clutter.
Install light-switches at the top and bottom of the stairs. Or, try motion-detector lights that turn on automatically.
Put non-slip treads on each bare-wood step.
Consider adding rails to the bed to prevent the sleeping person from rolling off.
Keep track of pets, as these creatures are responsible for more than 86,000 fall-related injuries each year.

Dress:

Wear properly-fitting shoes or slippers with non-skid soles, throughout the home and especially on stairs.
Replace slippers that have stretched out of shape and are too loose.
Never walk with socks or stockings on hardwood floors.
Think about wearing an alarm device that will bring help in case you cannot get up from a fall.

Watch the: 60 second television ad on falls prevention, Alone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2cfBBnt3Fo&feature=player_embedded

AAOS has more resources on falls:

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:
With more than 37,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (www.aaos.org or www.orthoinfo.org) is the premier not-for-profit organization that provides education programs for orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals, champions the interests of patients and advances the highest quality musculoskeletal health. An orthopaedic surgeon is a physician who treats the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves. Follow the conversation at www.facebook.com/AAOS1 or www.twitter.com/AAOS1.

SOURCE American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons